Protective pads

ABSTRACT

A pad removably mountable on a golf bag for protecting the bag against wear.

United States Patent 1191 Wilson [4 1 July 24, 1973 I PROTECTIVE PADS 3,081,923 3/1963 [76] Inventor: Frank Wilson, Box 102, Grayslake, A

60030 2,636,751 4/1953 Carlson 150/15 R [22] Filed: Oct. 27, 1971 21 App]. No.: 193,091 Primary Examiner-Herbert F. Ross 1 Assistant Examiner-Alan Eskenas 521 0.5. CI. 1s0/1.s R, 2/2 O Keeff" [51] Int. Cl A63!) 55/00 [58] Field of Search ISO/1.5 R, 1.5 A,

15011.5 B; 24/3 A, 3 13,3 0; 224/5 P, 29 B; [57] ABSTRACT v A pad removably mountable on a golf bag for protect- [56] 1 References Cited 1 UNITED STATES PATENTS Gobble 224/5 P ing the bag against wear.

5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJULZMQH INVENTOR:

FRANK WILSON ATT'YS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to protective pads, and more particularly, to protective pads which are particularly well adapted for use on golf bags.

It is a primary object of the present invention to afford a novel pad for use on golf bags, for protecting the latter against wear.

As is well known to those skilled in the art, golf bags, which normally are relatively expensive, are subjected to usages which cause damaging wear. This is particularly true when the bags are transported on carts, either of the pull type or the motorized type, such carts commonly supportingly engaging the top collar of such bags in such a manner that in a relatively short time the thus engaged portion of the bag has suffered extensive wear. It is an important object of the present invention to enable golf bags to be protected against such wear in a novel and expeditious manner.

Also, as is well known to those skilled in the art, the top edges of the top collars of golf bags are commonly subjected to extensive wear even when the bags are carried by i the golfer or by a caddie. Such wear is caused by the heads of the irons carried in the bag, the heads of such clubs commonly resting on or engaging the top edges of such collars. It is another important object of the present invention to enable the top edges of the top collars of golf bags to be protected against suchwear in a novel and expeditious manner.

Another object of the present invention is to simultaneously afford protection, in a novel and expeditious manner, againstboth such-types of wear of golf bags,

namely, wear from engagement with a-cart and wear from engagement with the heads of golf clubs.

Yet another object of the present invention is to afford a novel protective pad of the aforementioned type which may be usedon golf bags of various sizes.

A further object of the present invention is to afford a novel protective pad for golf bags, which, in use, is removably secured to such a golf bag in a novel and expeditious manner.

Another object of the present invention is to afford a novel protective pad for use on golf bags, which is practical and efficient in operation and which may be readily and economically produced commercially.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show a preferred embodiment of the present invention and the principles thereof and what I now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying these principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodyingthe same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention andthe purview of the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings: g

F I6. I is a side elevational view of a golf bag showing a protective pad mounted in operative position thereon, to illustrate the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the top of the bag shown in FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the pad shown in FIG. 1, the pad being shown removed from the bag; and

FIG. 4 is a detail sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 in FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT SHOWN HEREIN A pad 1, embodying the principles of the present invention, is shown herein to illustrate the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The pad 1 embodies, in general, an elongated, substantially rectangular shaped, flexible body portion 2, having an elongated strap 3 secured thereto and projecting from both of the ends 4 and 5 of the body portion 2 betweenthe opposite longitudinal edges 6 and 7 of the body portion 2, FIG. 3.

The body portion 2 embodies a cover 8 which comprises two substantially rectangular shapedsheets 9 and 10 of a suitable flexible material, such as, for example, polyvinyl chloride. The sheets 9 and 10 are identical in size andare disposed in face-to-facerelation with their outer peripheral edge portions secured together throughout their lengths by suitable means, such as heat scaling, to afford the edges 4-7 of the body portion 2 of the pad 1. r I

A flexible filler 11 is disposed within the cover 8 in position to substantially fill the latter. The filler 11 may be made of any suitable material, but, preferably, is made of a single, substantially flatsheet of suitable resilient material such as, for example, polyurethane.

Two openingsl2 and 13 are formed through respective end portions of the body portion 2, adjacent to, but in inwardlyspaced relation to the ends 4 and 5,-respectively, of the body portion 2. Preferably, the openings 12 and 13 extend through both the cover 8 and the filler 11 and are disposed midway between the longitudinal edges 6 and 7 of the body portion 2. j

The strap 3 preferably is highly flexible and resilient and is stretchable in a longitudinal direction, with the resiliency being such that when the strap 3 is stretched in use, the force urging the strap 3 to return to its normal, unstretched condition is relatively strong, such as,

for example, in the nature of 2 to 18 pounds. It may be made of any suitable material, such as, for example, rubber or jute elastic rope.

The strap 3 is mounted in and extends through the openings 12 and 13, with the central body portion 14 of the strap 3 disposed in adjacent relation to the outer surface of the sheet 10 of the cover 8 between the openings 12 and 13, and with the end portions 15 and 16 of the strap 3 extending outwardly from the openings 12 and 13, respectively, in adjacent relation to the outer surface of the sheet 9 of the cover 8, FIG. 3.

A buckle 17, FIGS. 1 and 2, is mounted onthe end portionslS and 16 of the strap for releasably securing these end portions together for a purpose which will be discussed in greater detail presently. The buckle 17 may be of any suitable type, but preferably is of the type well knownin the trade which includes a member 18 having a substantially T-shaped projection 19 thereon mounted on the free end ofthe end portion l6 of the strap 3, and a member 20, having anelongated slot 21,- mounted on the free end of the endportion l5 of the strap 3 for receiving the projection 19 in interlocking engagement therethrough, FIG. 3.

The pad 1 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings mounted on a bag 22, which is of a type which is readily available on the market. Such bags commonly embody a top collar 23 and a bottom collar 24, with a body portion 25 disposed between the collars 23 and 24, as shown in FIG. 1. Normally, in such bags, the clubs, not shown, to be carried therein are inserted downwardly through the top collar 23 into position wherein the ends of the shafts of the clubs remote from the heads thereof rest on the bottom 26 of the bag. Normally, the clubs are separated in such bags such as by a plate 27, having openings 28 therein, FIG. 2, through which the shafts of the clubs are inserted, or by divider elements, not shown, which divide the bag into a lesser number of compartments for the purpose of separating particular groups of clubs from each other. In loading such a bag, the woods are normally disposed in one side of the bag, such as the side 29 thereof, FIGS. 1 and 2, with the irons being disposed in the other side of the bag, such as the side 30 thereof, FIG. 2.

Normally, golf bags, such as the bag 22, are of such length that when the clubs are diposed in position therein for carrying, the heads of the longer clubs, such as the woods, project above the top collar 23, but the heads of the shorter clubs, such as, for example, all, or at least part of the irons are in position to rest on the top edge 31 of the collar 23 adjacent to the side 30 of the bag. Such engagement 'of the heads of the clubs with the top 31 of the top collar 23 tends to wear this edge of the collar 23, which is a problem that has long been present in the golfing field.

Also, golf bags, such as the golf bag 22, are often transported around golf courses, during a game of golf, on golf carts of the pull type or on golf carts of the motorized type, both types of which are well known. In such carts, the bags are normally supported therein by members, which are commonly constructed of metal, disposed in supporting engagement with the outer peripheral surface of the top collar of the bag, such as, for

example, the collar 23 of the bag 22. Such supporting engagement of such carts with the golf bags, tends to wear the top collars thereof, and this, also, has been a problem which has long been present in the golfing field.

My invention enables golf bags to be protected from both such types of wear, namely, wear caused by the engagement of club heads with the tops of the top collars of the bags, and the wear caused by the engagementof supporting members on a cart with the outer peripheral surface of the top collars of the bags. Thus, my novel pad 1 may readily be disposed on such a golf bag in position wherein it is effective to protect against both types of wear.

To thus assemble the pad 1 and a golf bag, such as the bag 22, for protecting the latter, the buckle 17 may be unlatched, and the body portion 2 of the pad 1 may be disposed around the portion of the outer periphery of the top collar 23 to be protected, such as the portion 'disposed at the side 30 of the bag 22, with the central body portion 14 ofthe strap 3 disposed between the body portion 2 of the pad 1 and the adjacent outer surface of the collar 23, and with the longitudinal edge 6 of the body portion 2 projecting upwardly above the top 31 of the top collar 23. Thereafter, the end portions 15 and 16 may be pulled to thereby stretch the strap 23 into position to extend around the outer periphery of the top collar 23, and the portions 18 and 20 of the buckle 17 may be interlocked to thereby secure the pad 1 on the outer surface of the collar 23, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Preferably, the pad 1 is of such length that, when it is mounted in operative position on a golf bag collar, such as the collar 23, the body portion 2 thereof extends around the collar less than the full periphery thereof but no less than half the periphery thereof, and the strap 3 is of such normal, unexpanded length that, when it is disposed in operative position on the collar, it has been stretched in the nature of 1/6th to l/3rd the periphery of the collar.

Also, preferably, the body portion 2 of the pad 1 is of such width that when it is mounted in such operative position on the collar of a golf bag, such as the collar 23, and in which position it projects above the top edge of the collar, the lower edge of the body portion, which is the edge 7 as shown in FIG. 1, is no higher than the lower edge of the collar and preferably one-half to three-quarters of an inch therebelow.

For example, it has been found that a pad of the type of the pad 1 shown herein, which is highly effective for use on golf bags wherein the'top collar has an outer circumference of between 28 and 31 inches, and a width of between 6 and $4 and 7 and inches, is afforded with the cover 8 made of the aforementioned polyvinyl chloride, the filler 11 made of the aforementioned polyurethane and the strap 3 made of the aforementioned jute elastic rope, and wherein the body portion 2 has a length of 17 inches, a width of 8 inches and a thickness of V2 inch, and the strap 3 has an over-all nonexpanded length of 24 inches, a fully expanded length of 32 inches, a width of 1 inch and a thickness of /8 of an inch.

With the pad 1 disposed on the golf bag 22 in the previously discussed manner, it affords effective protection against wear to the outer peripheral surface of the collar 23 by the supporting member of a cart, and, likewise, affords protective protection against wear of the top 31 of the collar 23 by the club heads disposed at the side 30 of the bag 22, these club heads being held out of engagement with the top 31 of the collar 23 by the upper longitudinal edge 6 of the pad 1. In this connection, it will be appreciated that, if desired, the pad 1 may be reversed on the collar 23, with the edge 7 being the upper edge and the edge 6 being the lower edge, so as to prolong the life of the pad I.

With the pad 1 constructed in the manner disclosed herein, and with the strap 3 constructed of the aforementioned preferred materials, it will be seen that the strap 3 affords a particularly effective unit for holding the pad 1 in desired position on the collar 23. Thus, with the central body portion 14 of the strap 3 disposed between the body portion 2 of the pad 1 and the adjacent peripheral surface of the collar 23, and with the end portions 15 and 16 of the strap 3 disposed in engagement with the outer peripheral surface of the collar 23, the strap 3 is effectiveto frictionally hold the pad 1 against movement relative to the collar 23.

However, in addition, it will be observed that with the strap 3 projecting outwardly through the openings 12 and 13 and extending along the outer surface of the sheet 9 of the body portion 2, between the openings 12 and 13 and the adjacent ends 4 and 5, respectively, of the body portion 2, the strap 3 is effective to firmly secure the end portions of the body portion 2 in close titting, juxtaposed relation to the underlying portion of the outer peripheral surface of the collar 23, so as to prevent the ends 4 and 5 from projecting outwardly from the collar 23.

It also will be observed that, if desired, the pad 1 may,

readily be removed from a golf bag, such as the bag 22, by merely unlatching the buckle l7, and, if desired, may be mounted on another bag, so that one pad may serve a plurality of bags.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention enables a golf bag to be protected against wear in a novel and expeditious manner.

Also, it will be seen that the present invention affords a novel pad for use in protecting a golf bag against wear.

in addition, it will be seen that the present invention affords a novel protective pad for golf bags, which is practical and efficient in operation and which may be readily and economically produced commercially.

Thus, while I have illustratedand described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that this is capable of variation and modification, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims. i

I claim: i

o 1. In combination with golf bag having a top collar, a bottom collar and a body portion extending between said collars, t

a. a pad comprising,

1. a flexible elongated body portion having a. two oppositely disposed ends, and 'b. two oppositely disposed longitudinal edges,

and 2. means connected to said body portion and extending from said ends,

b. said elongated body portion being disposedlongitudinally around a portionof said top collar 1. in juxtaposition thereto, and

2. with one of said longitudinal edges projecting upwardly above the top of said top collar,

c. said means comprising a strap extending around the portion of said top collar remote from said elongated body portion in juxtaposition thereto for holding said pad on said top collar. 2. The combination defined in claim 1, and in which a. said elongated body portion has two openings through respective end portions thereof, and b. said strap 1. extends completely around said top collar with a central portion thereof disposed between said top collar and the portion of said elongated body portion disposed between said openings,

2. extends through said openings, and

3. extends across said end portions of said elongated body portion outwardly of said openings.

3. The combination defined in claim 2, and in which a. said elongated body portion is of substantially uniform thickness throughout its length and breadth and comprises 1. a cover which is sealed around its peripheral edge, and

2. a sheet of resilient material disposed withinsaid cover, and i b. said strap is elastic and longitudinally stretchable. 4. In combination with a golf bag, a. a pad removably mounted on said bag and comprising i 1. an elongated body portion wrapped partially around said bag to'protect said bag against wear, and

2. means extending from the ends of said body portion and connected together on the side of said bag remote from said body portion in position to hold said body portion in said partially wrapped around position on said bag.

5. The combination defined in claim 10, and in which a. said means comprises an elongated strap extending completely around said bag, and

b. said strap v 1. extends through openings at each endof said body portion,

2. has a central portion disposed between said body portion and said bag, and

3. end portions disposed on the side of said body portion remote from said bag. l

W195 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 5 9 QER'HFICATE OF CORRECTION Page 3747654 Dated July 24, 1973 Inventofls) Frank Wilson It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

claim 5, line 1, 10" should be 4 Signed and sealed this 22nd day of January 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. RENE TEGTMEYER Attesting Officer Acting Commissioner of Paten 

1. In combination with golf bag having a top collar, a bottom collar and a body portion extending between said collars, a. a pad comprising
 1. a flexible elongated body portion having a. two oppositely disposed ends, and b. two oppositely disposed longitudinal edges, and
 2. means connected to said body portion and extending from said ends, b. said elongAted body portion being disposed longitudinally around a portion of said top collar
 1. in juxtaposition thereto, and
 2. with one of said longitudinal edges projecting upwardly above the top of said top collar, c. said means comprising a strap extending around the portion of said top collar remote from said elongated body portion in juxtaposition thereto for holding said pad on said top collar.
 2. means connected to said body portion and extending from said ends, b. said elongAted body portion being disposed longitudinally around a portion of said top collar
 2. with one of said longitudinal edges projecting upwardly above the top of said top collar, c. said means comprising a strap extending around the portion of said top collar remote from said elongated body portion in juxtaposition thereto for holding said pad on said top collar.
 2. The combination defined in claim 1, and in which a. said elongated body portion has two openings through respective end portions thereof, and b. said strap
 2. extends through said openings, and
 2. a sheet of resilient material disposed within said cover, and b. said strap is elastic and longitudinally stretchable.
 2. means extending from the ends of said body portion and connected together on the side of said bag remote from said body portion in position to hold said body portion in said partially wrapped around position on said bag.
 2. has a central portion disposed between said body portion and said bag, and
 3. end portions disposed on the side of said body portion remote from said bag.
 3. extends across said end portions of said elongated body portion outwardly of said openings.
 3. The combination defined in claim 2, and in which a. said elongated body portion is of substantially uniform thickness throughout its length and breadth and comprises
 4. In combination with a golf bag, a. a pad removably mounted on said bag and comprising
 5. The combination defined in claim 10, and in which a. said means comprises an elongated strap extending completely around said bag, and b. said strap 